Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Ibrahim Afellay is a football player who defends the Dutch national team who has a Moroccan descent (Rif Region) and was born in Utrecht, Netherlands on April 2, 1986. Afellay played as an attacking midfielder and winger. Afellay football career began with USV Elinkwijk in Utrecht, then in 1996 he joined the PSV youth academy. Afellay's official debut for PSV when competing against NAC Breda at the age of 17 years on February 4, 2004. But his debut in the competition when against Twente on February 14. Then, on May 15, Afellay playing when against Feyenoord and leave a good impression because he scored 2 goals. In season 2003-2004, he played three official games and 7 games in 2004-2005 season. In the 2005-2006 season, Afellay played in the Johan Cruijff-Schaal for the first 3 games and he's always in the line-up. Then on September 13, Afellay made his debut when winning the Champions League against Schalke 04. Subsequently, on October 8th, coach van Basten chose Afellay in the national team for the match against the Czech Republic and Macedonia, although at that time he did not play. During the 2005-2006 season Afellay played a total of 23 league matches during this season and scored 2 goals. Afellay who is a Dutchman of Moroccan got confused because the manager of Morocco and the Netherlands offered him to enter the national team squad. But eventually he decided to join the Dutch national team despite the heavy competition. International debut began when UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovenia on March 28, 2007 and scored the first goal at international level on October 12, 2010 when UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier against Sweden. Afellay signed in the Dutch national team squad for the UEFA Euro 2008, which was chosen by coach van Basten, but he's a lot of play as a substitute. Afellay was also selected by the coach van Marwijk for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He also as a substitute for the first game and second in the competition while wins against Denmark and Japan. He also played in round 16 when play against Slovakia. [read more]